Gary Sundgren Explained

Gary Sundgren
Fullname:Kari Juhani Sundgren
Birth Date:25 October 1967
Birth Place:Vammala, Finland
Height:1.87 m
Position:Defender
Youthyears1:1973
Youthyears2:1974–1987
Youthclubs2:IK Franke
Years1:1988–1997
Years2:1997–2002
Years3:2002–2003
Years4:2004
Years5:2006
Clubs4:Sollentuna
Clubs5:Djursholm
Caps1:221
Caps2:111
Caps3:24
Totalcaps:356
Goals1:12
Goals2:2
Goals3:1
Totalgoals:15
Nationalyears1:1994–2000
Nationalteam1:Sweden
Nationalcaps1:30
Nationalgoals1:1

Kari Juhani "Gary" Sundgren (born 25 October 1967) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as either a right back or a central defender. He played professionally with AIK and Zaragoza, in a 15-year career. A Swedish international for nearly a decade, he won a total of 30 caps and represented his country at UEFA Euro 2000.

Club career

Sundgren was born in Vammala, Finland, but moved to Sweden with his parents as a toddler, being raised in Västerås. There, he was often called Gary and it caught on, being addressed in the latter manner for the duration of his career.[1]

Sundgren started playing professionally with AIK, being an undisputed starter from an early age. He scored the winner against Malmö FF when they became Swedish champions for the first time in 55 years, in 1992.

Subsequently, Sundgren moved abroad and joined La Liga club Real Zaragoza.[2] He played 31 games in his first season, while also being instrumental in the Aragonese team's fourth place in 1999–2000.

After the 2001–02 campaign, with Zaragoza relegated, Sundgren returned to AIK, retiring from the game in 2006 after two seasons with two modest Stockholm sides, IFK Sollentuna and FC Djursholm.

International career

Sundgren represented Sweden at UEFA Euro 2000,[3] and played in the 0–0 draw against Turkey in the tournament.[4] He was capped 30 times, scoring once.[5]

Personal life

Sundgren is the father of four children. One of his sons, Daniel, has also played for AIK, while his nephew Mikael Backlund is captain of the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League.[6]

Career statistics

International

International goals

Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first.

Honours

AIK

1992

1995–96, 1996–97

Zaragoza

2000–01[7] [8] Sweden

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gary Sundgren om övergången till Svanskog. Gary Sundgren on the transition to Svanskog. Värmlands Folkblad. Swedish. 10 June 2015. 10 June 2016. 8 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160808091746/http://www.vf.se/sport/fotboll/gary-sundgren-om-overgangen-till-svanskog. dead.
  2. News: Sundgren, primera alta maña. Sundgren, first maño in. Mundo Deportivo. Spanish. 3 June 1997. 10 June 2016.
  3. News: Sweden name preliminary squad for Euro 2000. ESPN Soccernet. 18 May 2000. 17 October 2014.
  4. News: Larsson is unable to lift Sweden. The Independent. Phil. Shaw. 16 June 2000. 17 October 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20000711035323/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/Sport/Euro2000/2000-06-03/larsson160600.shtml. 11 July 2000.
  5. Web site: Gary Sundgren. ESPN Soccernet. 13 July 2000. 17 October 2014.
  6. Web site: 26 November 2015. Backlund får inte kalla sig veteran: "Tränaren vill inte det". Backlund may not call himself a veteran: ”The coach does not want it”. 10 June 2016. Viasat. Swedish.
  7. Web site: Llegó el Frente y se fue el Atlético. The Front arrived and Atlético left. ABC. Spanish. 21 June 2001. 10 June 2016.
  8. Web site: Zaragoza, no hay quinta Copa mala. Zaragoza, no such thing as a bad fifth Cup. ABC. Spanish. 1 July 2001. 10 June 2016.
  9. Web site: King's Cup 1997 . 2022-07-21 . RSSSF.